more like them

It sometimes feels like as parents we are so obsessed with teaching our children things. Teaching them to eat, to sleep, to sit, to walk, and then how to jump and dance and sing... then read, write, count! It's a seemingly never-ending list of skills that we have the responsibility to impart. As the grown ups we are expected to lead by example, to show them how and to pass on the things we've learned over the years to a new generation. To teach our children how to grow up to be bright and polite and kind.

But lately I've been thinking about all the things that I have and could learn from my children. And the more I think about it, the more I think that actually I would rather live in a world full of people like them. I honestly wish that more people looked at the world, and really saw things in the way that my children do... myself included.

Because I'm not sure when it happens that you stop noticing all the tiniest details of the world, but it seems to happen somewhere on the journey between childhood and adulthood. And that makes me so sad. I think as adults go, that I am pretty good at looking for the beauty in the ordinary and appreciating the simplest pleasures of life. I definitely look for the good and gorgeous as I go through my life. But my children completely put me to shame. Because as an adult it's something that I have to "switch on", but they just do it without even thinking.

17

what we give up to 'have it all'

For the past week I have been thinking a lot about children and career and guilt. It all kind of stemmed from taking part in a Channel Mum Twitter party alongside a television programme on Kids v Career. It was a great programme; it didn't draw conclusions about right and wrong but simply discussed some of the issues faced by parents when they have children and have to make choices about their jobs and childcare arrangements. That chat on Twitter was brilliant too and definitely seemed to define for me that "having it all" - and whether women can have it or not - is relative, and different for each and every family.

Honestly I'm not entirely sure that you can ever completely "have it all". Life is about making choices and compromising. Something always has to give somewhere along the line, and having it all seems to be when whatever you've let give is what was the best thing for you. For some people that's returning to work after having a baby to chase their careers, for some it's returning to work in order to keep a roof over their heads and pay the bills, for others it's part time work where they can find a happy medium between work life and home life, others still change career and work from home so that they can have the best of both worlds. For us, it was the somewhat old fashioned approach of my giving up work and my career entirely to focus on raising our children.

12

oh the places you'll go beautiful boy {2015}

5

this guy

I often worry that I take this guy for granted... he is an absolute hero in this family and he definitely doesn't always get the credit he deserves for that. He works hard for us in his day job, and then comes home and does it all over again mucking in with everything that being a daddy, husband and general family man entails.

7

my style

I think we all set out on the parenting journey with certain ideas in our heads as to the sort of parent we would like to be. Some of those ideals stand strong and become a steadfast part of our approach as parents, and others fall by the way side. I'm in no doubt that there are right ways to parent and wrong ways to parent... I can do both in the space of a normal day, but on the most part I own it, I take the rough with the smooth, I accept that I'm making this up as I go along most of the time, I learn from my mistakes and I move on.

I kind of thought every single parent on the planet thought like that too.

But apparently not...

12

tough times

Parenting isn't an easy path to tread,

we know that when we sign up.

We know there will be sleepless nights,

we know there will be tough decisions to make sometimes,

we know that our children will be the best things to ever happen to us

but that there will also be challenges and hard times.

18

a hundred hearts

author unknown

17

the best mummy i can be

I don't think I'm alone in wanting to always do the best for my children.

I think all mothers harbour ideas of being a super mum;

who looks fantastic,

has well behaved and well turned out children,

who simultaneously juggles providing engaging and educational activities,

while baking a cake,

keeping an immaculate house,

and making sure her children feel completely self confident, listened to and loved.

I will put my hands up and say right now,

that I fail.

On all of these things.

It doesn't make me a failure

but I can't do it all, all the time.

The truth is that I don't think anyone can.

26

i am your parent, you are my child

Author: Maryann K Cusimano

13

the whole truth

As a parent there is no greater compliment

that a compliment on your children.

People telling me that they think my children are polite,

or good natured,

or cute or happy,

absolutely makes my heart sing.

Because I helped make them

and I'm helping raise them,

and so that compliment is half mine, right?

25

never again...

jen hatmaker

9

our little individuals

It makes my heart stupidly happy

to get to parent a boy and a girl.

I love that my husband and I have the opportunity

to learn about raising boys and raising girls.

But it is already clear to me

that however much I might want to try to be fair and equal,

we will not be raising our children the same.

13

impressions on my heart

Becoming a mother has filled my life with light,

my children are just such shining examples of perfection to me

and there is really no love in the world

like that of a mother for her children.

It fills you up with pride and wonder.

15

raising

The role of parent is about lots of things.

It's about love.

It's about nurturing and caring.

It's about discipline.

It's about teaching.

It's all about raising . . .

. . . raising tiny people up

into the best big people they can be.

9

dream big little ones

All parents have dreams for their children.

I think it's a natural part of raising a child

to think about where they might end up some day.

As much as it sometimes isn't that nice

to think about them all grown up,

flying the nest,

not needing us quite so much,

at the same time that is what we do it for.

28

it's always darkest before the dawn

I haven't been telling the whole truth here lately.

I haven't been lying, just keeping quiet about things.

I knew when I was pregnant with the beautiful girl 

that things would be trying at times with two under two,

I knew there would be changes and that we would all need to adapt,

I knew that it would be challenging and exhausting and tough

and that was just on the good days.

53

mummy of two

It still feels weird to think of myself as a mummy of two.

And two under two at that.

In so many ways it feels like I only just got my head around being a parent,

fullstop.

But now I have two little people relying on me,

looking to me for help and guidance and comfort.

It's an awesome responsibility

and an awesome privilege.

I wonder how long it will take for me to stop having those moments every now and again

where I suddenly go,

"These two perfect babies are mine. How did I get so lucky?"

22

a baby no more

He will always be my baby.

Always, always, ALWAYS.

He was the little person who made me a mummy in the first place

so however big he gets,

however grown up he appears;

he'll never stop being my baby.

24

an interview with the mr

10

superheroes...

Mums are superheroes.

They have powers and skills.

They dry tears with magic tissues.

They make boo-boos better with a kiss.

They have answers for life's great questions

and a cuddle that solves all problems.

18